Boris Says: U2 & The JGR Top-10

This past weekend our team plane landed in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Much to my excitement, the plane that will carry the band U2 around the world on their next concert tour was there as well! They just happen to be my favorite band, so to honor that moment, I’m going to relate 10 moments from JGR’s season to my favorite U2 songs.

Which JGR moments can you relate to your favorite band or group of songs? Leave them in the comments below!

1) I Will Follow (From the album “Boy” – 1980)

After Denny Hamlin’s most recent win in Michigan, JGR has won 7 of the last 10 Sprint Cup races, 6 of the last 9 Nationwide Series races, and 3 of the last 4 K&N East Series race. The 4th K&N race was won by our own Darrell Wallace, Jr. in another team’s equipment.

2) Window In The Skies (From “U218″ – 2006)

The brief storm that hit Pocono just as the green flag was about to fly was a monster. While on the track, Joey Logano commented that the rain drops were running sideways across his windshield instead of upwards. I sought shelter in the No. 18 hauler just before it hit. When it was over, the sky was bright blue and the temperature was in the mid seventies. The calm after the storm is more like it.

3) Discothèque (From “Pop” – 1987)

Denny Hamlin invited the entire Joe Gibbs Racing team and other teams to his club Butter during the Charlotte race weeks. It was a fun night of dancing and celebration after a successful start to the season.

4) Mysterious Ways (From “Achtung Baby” – 1991)

Joey Logano once again had the competition wondering how they might possibly beat he and the No.20 GameStop team in the Nationwide Series race in Kentucky. Logano won his third-straight race there from the pole!

5) One (From “Achtung Baby” – 1991)

This weekend will mark the first time the Nationwide Series has visited the long road course in Elkhart Lake, WI. I’ve heard they have track officials in the woods scaring animals away from the track. Matt DiBenedetto and Brad Coleman are driving for us in the race and have been practicing the track on their simulators.

6) Pride [In The Name Of Love] (From “The Unforgettable Fire” – 1984)

Taylor’s Finish Line Festival was a blast! It was held the day after the All-Star race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway drag strip. J.D. and Melissa Gibbs setup the festival to celebrate their son Taylor’s completion of leukemia treatments. 100% of the proceeds from the festival went to Make-A-Wish and Levine’s Children’s Hospital. Over $600,000 was raised!

7) Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own (From “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” – 2004)

How about our pit crews so far this year!? The No. 11 FedEx crew won the Pit Crew Challenge and the No. 18 M&M’s team and No. 20 Home Depot team continue to crank out flawless stops. It has been fun to watch, especially when our cars come out of the pits 1-2-3 as they did near the end of the Pocono race.

8) Sunday Bloody Sunday (From “War” – 1983)

Too easy.

9) Where The Streets Have No Name (From “The Joshua Tree” – 1987)

I attended the Prelude to the Dream at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway. It was a fantastic show! Kyle Busch almost won the thing. It was my first dirt track race and I was thoroughly impressed. However, it was kind of in the middle of Nowhere, Ohio – I wouldn’t have been able to find my way back home from there if my life depended on it.

10) Yahweh (From “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” – 2004)

Taylor Gibbs stole the show after giving the invocation before the All Star Race! “God, please help the drivers to win a lot, Kyle, Denny, and Joey the most. And help the other drivers win sometimes too. And please help the people in the hospitals, I don’t want them to get sick,” he prayed, among other things. A childlike faith is the strongest kind for sure. I received more feedback on the website, Twitter, and Facebook about Taylor’s prayer than I did about the Kyle & Denny altercation during the race that night.